This is an invitation to participate in an online discussion about “policy leadership” in the Pacific Islands, this coming Thursday and Friday. The draft program is below. All that is required is for you to log on using via SCOPIA using the instructions that appear below the draft program. Please let me know if you have any difficulties in connecting, or if you have other questions about the program and the series. Also, if you are participating, please let me know.

The Pacific Islands Public Policy Project has been established within the School of Government at the Victoria University of Wellington to promote understanding of how public policy is practiced in the Pacific Islands.

In eSeminar 2, “Urbanization in the Pacific Islands”, 14 participants from 7 countries consulted on progress toward implementation of existing urbanization policies, and the potential for further institutional commitment to implementation of plans and strategies to address the issues of urbanization in the Pacific. A report of the eSeminar will soon be online athttp://www.victoria.ac.nz/sog/research/pipp

Why “Public Policy Leadership”?

The Pacific Islands region is renowned for having plans and strategies in place in most sectors, at regional if not national level. But literature on the effectiveness of government in the Pacific Islands frequently suggests that a “leadership deficit” is responsible for poor policy articulation and implementation. This eSeminar takes up these issues but with specific questions in focus.

Firstly, what can we understand about leadership styles, practices, and effectiveness in Pacific Island countries? Is there indeed a deficit, or does the focus on leadership failure hide narratives of leadership success?

Secondly, how can “public policy” leadership be distinguished from leadership in other contexts? What does good “public policy” leadership look like? What constraints does it face? What successes can be identified and acknowledged? Are these successes evident at various levels of public life, including local, national and regional?

Thirdly, who is driving public policy leadership in the Pacific? Is it the political leaders, or public servants, or civil society, or the business sector? What role do individuals play in public policy leadership?

Participation

Participation in the eSeminar is open to all who are interested, and takes place over the internet via computer or audio-visual facilities.

The eSeminar will bring together national and regional public servants, members of parliament, academics, NGO leaders, journalists, and graduate students.

Participants in Wellington will convene at Victoria University. The workshop program will be available shortly. To register, and to find out how to participate online, contact Graham Hassall @ pipp@vuw.ac.nz